Testing device for water meter registering units

ABSTRACT

A testing device for testing a water meter register unit which comprises a rotatable magnet and which causes signals to be transmitted to a remote register: the testing device includes a housing for batteries, a motor and a rotatable magnet driven by the motor. The magnet is located within a chamber on which are supports for the water meter register unit. The batteries are connected to the motor through a switch in either parallel or series, and adapter rings enable the holding of register units of various sizes.

United States Patent Bruening et al. Feb. 15, 1972 [54] TESTING DEVICEFOR WATER METER [56] References Cited REGISTERING UNITS UNITED STATESPATENTS [72] Invenwrs gg'g' g t 'gfs s g gg i' both 2,510,327 6/1950Bennett ..73/3 3,029,637 4/1962 Fellows ..73/l94 R [73] Assignee:Washington Suburban Sanitary Commis- P i E i -L i R. Prince AssistantExaminer-William A. Henry, ll [22] Filed: Sept 2, 1970 Attorney-Lavine,Cantor & Reich [21] Appl. No.: 69,061 [57] ABSTRACT A testing device fortesting a water meter register unit which [52] US. Cl ..73/3 pri a rtatable magnet and which causes signals to be [51] 'f Cl 25/00transmitted to a remote register: the testing device includes a [58]Field of Search ..73/3, 194 R housing f batteries, a motor and arotatable magnet driven by the motor. The magnet is located within achamber on which are supports for the water meter register unit. Thebatteries are connected to the motor through a switch in either parallelor series, and adapter rings enable the holding of register units ofvarious sizes.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 70 mm\ mm a A t 88 a 84 j 86 '12 g 62 30 a aS 2% 20 27/ m $1,111.

\ l l\ \f Illlllll;

PATENTEDFEB 15 I972 SHEET 1 UF 2 INVENTORS JAMES H LEE DAVID J BRUENINGQ0/01 6 Perk/3 ATTORNEYS PATENTEDFEBISIBIZ 3.641.806

SHEET 2 UF 2 FIG. r Q

INVENTORS JAMES H. LEE

DAVID J. BRUENING ATTORNEYS TESTING DEVICE FOR WATER METER REGISTERINGUNITS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to adevice for testing a water meter register unit.

Water is supplied to consumers, such as home owners or businessestablishments, by conduits which lead from a supply source into thebuilding occupied by the user. The user is required to compensate thewater utility for the amount of water used, and to effect this, thewater which is supplied to each user is measured, and a record made ofthe amount used. Typically a meter was provided within the building ofthe user, connected to the water inlet conduit. The meter includes avane, or impeller which was rotated by the water which passed through achamber within which the vane or impeller was housed. The impeller orvane was mounted on a shaft, this shaft driving, through suitablecoupling, a register which registered the cumulative amount of waterused. Previously, it was necessary that an employee of the water utilitygain access to the interior of the users building in order to read theregister, and make a record thereof, for subsequent billing of the userby the water utility.

However, an improved water meter organization has been developed and putinto use, this being a water meter organization including the followingthree basic units: a measuring chamber, a register unit, and a remoteregister unit. The measuring chamber is provided with a vane or impellerwhich functions in the same manner as with the older-type water meter,the shaft thereof carrying a magnet. The register unit is mounteddirectly on the measuring chamber, and includes a magnet which ismagnetically coupled with the magnet of the measuring chamber. Themagnet of the register unit is mounted on a shaft, and through suitablegearing drives the register unit, which typically includes a transparentelement for permitting the registering device to be observed. Inaddition, the register unit includes a signal generator, which is drivenby the magnet in the register unit and which generates a signal that istransmitted over a suitable signal conductor to a remote register unit;the remote register unit is positioned on the exterior of the usersbuilding, so that the water utility employee does not have to gainaccess to the interior of the users building in order to read theregister unit.

Two types of signal generators are at present prominently used. One typeof signal generator generates an electrical signal, in the nature of apulse, which signal is carried by means of an insulated wire to theremote register unit, where the signal causes the remote register unitto be operated. Another type of signal generator generates a charge orpulse of compressed air, which is conducted to the remote register unitby a suitable tube or conduit. With either type of signal generator, itis necessary to insure that, upon installation of the three-part watermeter apparatus, the register unit mounted on the measuring chamberoperates satisfactorily, that the electric wire or tube connecting thatregister unit with the remote register unit is satisfactorily installed,and that the remote register unit operates satisfactorily.

Heretofore, in order to test the three-part apparatus after itsinstallation, it was necessary to utilize the services of two employees,and to cause water to flow through the measuring chamber of the watermeter apparatus. The water was caused to flow at a rate of approximatelygallons per minute, and in order to determine the accuracy of thecomponents, it was necessary to cause the water to flow forapproximately onehalf an hour. This time was considered to be necessaryin order to have enough water flow through the measuring chamber so thatany deficient operation of the various system pans could be noted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A testing device is provided including ahousing of a suitable size to support a water meter register unit. Inthe housing are an electric motor and a pair of conventional dry cellbatteries.

An electric circuit is provided, including a switch, for connecting thebatteries to the motor. The switch is constructed so as to connect thebatteries to the motor in either series or parallel arrangement, tothereby provide for speed selection of the motor. The motor is drivinglycoupled to a rotatably mounted magnet, located adjacent and beneath anaccessible surface of the housing. Mounting fingers for supporting aregister unit extend from the surface so that the magnet of the testingunit and the magnet of the register unit are magnetically coupledtogether. One or more supporting rings are provided. carried in asuitable compartment of the housing, so that register units of differentsizes may be mounted upon the surface in the desired relationship.

The register unit is removed from the measuring unit and is placed onthe fingers of the tester. The switch is operated to cause the batteriesto drive the motor, and hence the magnet, the register unit and theremote register unit. After a short time, the reading of the remoteregister unit is observed and compared with that of the register unit atthe testing device. Equal readings of the two register units willindicate satisfactory connection and operation of the two register unitsand the connection between them. The entire test can be accomplished byone person in approximately five minutes.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus fortesting water meter register units, and the attendant connections tothem. Another object is the provision of a tester for water meterregisters which is portable, and can be used without connection to anexternal source of power. Yet another object of the present invention isto provide a water meter register tester which is battery operated, andwhich can vary the speed of operation of the tested units. Yet anotherobject of the present invention is the provision of a water meterregister tester which may be utilized with minimum modification, withregister units of various sizes. Still another object of the presentinvention is to provide a water meter register tester which can beoperated by only one person and which permits the testing to beaccomplished in a very short time. Another object is to provide such atester of extremely simple and economical construction which can befabricated from commonly available components.

Other objects, and many attendant advantages of the present inventionapparatus will be understood from consideration of the followingspecification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a testing device, shown inperspective view, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines 22 of FIG. 1, withparts in an alternate position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the device asshown in FIG. 2, with a register unit in position.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the electrical circuit included in thetesting device of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,wherein like or corresponding reference numerals are used to designatelike or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shownin FIG. 1 a perspective view of a testing device 10 in accordance withthe present invention. Testing device 10 may be seen to comprise agenerally boxlike housing 12 of approxi mately cubical configuration.Housing 12 comprises a relatively large middle portion 14, a top 16,shown in open position in FIG. 1, and a bottom 18. At the upper level ofthe middle portion 14 of the housing 12 there may be seen a partition20, which extends generally horizontally and terminates short of therear wall of the middle section 14, to thereby provide a storagecompartment 22. As may be seen in FIG. 1, the top 16 is hinged to themiddle section 14, and includes not only a planar top, designated 16A,but in addition includes the depending walls or flanges generallydesignated 16B. The bottom 18 is of similar shape and construction asthe top 16, so that fabrication of the housing 12 is simplified.

Also shown on FIG. I is a control knob 24, and a plurality of supportingfingers 30, the construction and function of which will be describedhereinbelow.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the top 16 and the bottom 18 are shownconnected to the middle section 14 by hinges 16C and 18C respectively.In addition, conventional latch devices 16D and 18D are provided inorder to secure the several parts of the housing 12 in closed condition.

Within the housing 12, there may be seen a vertically extendingpartition wall 32, which forms a portion of the boundary of the storagecompartment 22. Partition wall 32 also provides a portion of thesupporting structure generally designated 34, for an electric motor 40,which is conveniently mounted with its axis vertically extending. Themotor 40 has a shaft 42, to the upper end of which there is connected adrive element 44, which is connected with shaft 42 and which extendsgenerally transversely thereof. Mounted within the middle section 14 ofthe housing 12 is a switch 50, which is controlled by the aforementionedcontrol knob 24. A pair of dry cell batteries 52 is mounted, inconventional manner, in the bottom portion of the housing 12, thebatteries 52, switch 50 and electric motor 40 being interconnected bywiring W which is shown in FIG. 2; the specific circuitry provided bythe wiring and the switch will be discussed hereinbelow in connectionwith FIG. 4.

The drive element 44 may be seen to be in operative engagement with aforklike coupling member 54. As is best shown in FIG. 3, to whichreference is now made, the coupling member 54 is carried by a shaft 56,at the upper end of which is a magnet 60. Magnet 60 is carried within ahollow body 62 made of a material which will permit the passage ofmagnetic lines of force therethrough without significant change. Thehollow body 62 is provided with an integral outstanding flange 64, bywhich it may be secured to the aforementioned horizontal partition 20.The supporting fingers 30 are preferably integral with the hollow body62, there being four such fingers 30 provided, circumferentiallyarranged about the axis of the motor 40, and parallel thereto.

A register unit 70 of known construction may be mounted on thesupporting fingers 30 and driven by the electric motor 40 and magnet 60.By way of illustration, register unit 70 may comprise a housing 72having a magnet 74 therein. Magnet 74 may be carried by a shaft 76,having at the upper end thereof a gear 78. A transfer gear 80, in meshwith the gear 78, may drive a signal generator 82. The signal generator82 has connected with it a conductor 84, conductor 84 also beingconnected to a remote register unit, not shown. By suitable gearing,generally designated 86, a disc-type readout device 88 may also bedriven from the magnet 74. The readout device 88 may be observed througha suitable transparent covering 90.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there may be seen the motor 40, the switch 50,which is a three-position switch, and the two batteries 52. When switch50 is in the position shown, no current is supplied to the motor 40.When the switch 50 is moved to the intermediate position, the upperbattery 52 will be seen to be connected by conductor L-l directly to themotor 40, and the lower battery 52 will be connected through the contact50-1 of switch 50 to conductor L-2, and to the motor 40. Conductor L-3connects the motor 40 to the positive side of the lower battery 52, andconductor L-4 connects the upper contact 50-2, by means of conductorL-S, to the positive side of the upper battery 52. Thus, the twobatteries 52 will be seen to be connected to motor 40 in parallel. Uponmovement of the switch 50 to the third or uppermost position, the lowerbattery 52 will be connected through conductor L-6, lower contact 50-1,conductor L-7, upper contact 50-2, conductor L- to the positive side ofthe upper battery 52, the negative side of which will be connected withthe motor 40 through conductor L-l; motor 40 will be connected with thepositive side of lower battery 52 through conductor L-3, therebyproviding a series connection of the two batteries 52 with the motor 40.

The above circuit will provide for speed control of the motor 40, andconsequently of the magnet 60. Thus, register unit 70 may be driven at agiven speed when the switch 50 is in the intermediate position, and attwice that speed when the switch S0 is in the upper position.

In use, water conduits are provided into a structure. and the watermeter apparatus is installed, including the measuring chamber, theregister unit, the remote register unit on the exterior of thestructure, and the connection between the remote register unit and theregister unit at the measuring chamber is made. The reading of theremote register unit is noted, and also the reading of the register unitat the measuring chamber. This register unit, which is the register unit70 as shown in FIG. 3, is then disassembled from the measuring chamber.and is supported on the testing device 10, which will have the top 16thereof open. The register unit 70 will be firmly held and supported bythe testing device 10, including the supporting fingers 30. The switch50 will then be actuated by the control knob 24, for example to thethird position at which the highest speed of the motor 40 results. Thisspeed of rotation causes the magnet 60 to be rotated, the speed thereofbeing much higher than the speed at which the driving magnet of themeasuring chamber, connected to the impeller of the measuring chamber,would be rotated by a flow of water. After a short period of time, forexample 3 minutes, the switch 50 is returned to the off position, and acomparison is then made between the readings provided by the registerunit 70 and the remote register unit. If these readings have changed bythe same amount, then proper operation and connection of the tworegister units is evidenced. The switch 50 can then be moved to theintermediate position, to give an intermediate rotational speed to themagnet 60, for a relatively brief period of time, for example oneminute. At this point, the register unit 70 may be removed from thetesting device 12, and reinstalled in association with the measuringchamber. The employee performing the work can then note the reading ofthe register unit 70, and carrying the testing device 12 with him, canagain read the remote register unit as a final check. By utilizing thissystem of operation, as provided by the present invention testing device12, a water meter installation can be checked and rechecked by a singleemployee in approximately 5 minutes.

In some water utilities, water meters of different manufacturers areoften used, so that the register units thereof are of somewhat differentsizes. Therefore, an adapter ring (not shown) is provided, which will becarried in the compartment 22, and which can be placed upon thesupporting fingers 30 in order to support a register unit having asomewhat larger size than the register unit which fits upon thesupporting fingers 30. Consequently, the testing device 10 is usablewith water meters of various manufacturers, and of various sizes.

The testing device 10 as herein disclosed is of small size, preferablybeing a cubical construction of approximately 6 inches on each side. Thedevice 10 can be readily fabricated, since the parts thereof, such asthe motor 40, the switch 50 and the structure including the magnet 60and the hollow body 62, are all readily available. The housing 12 may befabricated from plastic, metal or wood, without difficulty and at lowcost. The batteries 52 are standard dry cell batteries, and replacementthereof may be readily effected due to the construction of the housing12 including the bottom 18 that is pivotally connected to the middlesection 14.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention and thereforethe invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings anddescribed in the specification but only as indicated in the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. A testing device for testing magnetically driven register unitscomprising;

housing means for supporting a register unit, said housing meanscomprising means for supporting a register unit, battery means and anelectric motor electrically connected thereto within said housing means,

a rotatable magnet within said housing means adjacent said register unitsupporting means, and

means for drivingly connecting said motor to said magnetv 2. The testingdevice of claim I, and means for driving said magnet at a plurality ofselected speeds.

3. The testing device of claim 2, said battery means comprising a pairof batteries, said means for driving said magnet at a plurality ofselected speeds comprising switch means for connecting said batteries tosaid motor in series or in parallel.

4. The testing device of claim 1, said housing means comprising pivotedtop means overlying said register unit supportmg means.

5. The testing device of claim 1, said means for supporting a registerunit comprising a plurality of fingers spaced circumferentially of theaxis of said magnet and parallel thereto.

6. The testing device of claim 5, said housing means comprising apivoted top means overlying said fingers and extending downwardly insurrounding relation thereto.

7. A testing device for testing magnetically driven register unitscomprising:

a housing having a middle section and top and bottom sections,

means movably connecting said top section and bottom section to saidmiddle section,

a partition at the top of said middle section,

a hollow member supported by said partition and having a rotatablemagnet therein, means within said housing for driving said magnet, and

means extending from said hollow member for supporting a register unitabove said partition.

8. The testing device of claim 7, said magnet driving means comprising amotor and electric battery means connected thereto, said motor being insaid middle section and said battery means supported in said middlesection and accessible upon movement ofsaid bottom section.

* i i l

1. A testing device for testing magnetically driven register unitscomprising: housing means for supporting a register unit, said housingmeans comprising means for supporting a register unit, battery means andan electric motor electrically connected thereto within said housingmeans, a rotatable magnet within said housing means adjacent saidregister unit supporting means, and means for drivingly connecting saidmotor to said magnet.
 2. The testing device of claim 1, and means fordriving said magnet at a plurality of selected speeds.
 3. The testingdevice of claim 2, said battery means comprising a pair of batteries,said means for driving said magnet at a plurality of selected speedscomprising switch means for connecting said batteries to said motor inseries or in parallel.
 4. The testing device of claim 1, said housingmeans comprising pivoted top means overlying said register unitsupporting means.
 5. The testing device of claim 1, said means forsupporting a register unit comprising a plurality of fingers spacedcircumferentially of the axis of said magnet and parallel thereto. 6.The testing device of claim 5, said housing means comprising a pivotedtop means overlying said fingers and extending downwardly in surroundingrelation thereto.
 7. A testing device for testing magnetically drivenregister units comprising: a housing having a middle section and top andbottom sections, means movably connecting said top section and bottomsection to said middle section, a partition at the top of said middlesection, a hollow member supported by said partition and having arotatable magnet therein, means within said housing for driving saidmagnet, and means extending from said hollow member for supporting aregister unit above said partition.
 8. The testing device of claim 7,said magnet driving means comprising a motor and electric battery meansconnected thereto, said motor being in said middle section and saidbattery means supported in said middle section and accessible uponmovement of said bottom section.